Members of Congress from Texas and Wyoming have introduced new legislation that could offer fossil fuel companies substantial legal immunity and reduce their compliance requirements with the Clean Air Act. Republican Harriet Hageman from Wyoming and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, are leading efforts to protect these companies from liability for damages caused by climate-related disasters like storms and wildfires. Concurrently, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, have proposed the FENCES Act, allowing states to argue that foreign emissions contribute to local pollution.
“Energy security is national security, and we will not self-sabotage our critical industries,” Hageman stated in a press release. She emphasized the need to protect American energy producers from legal repercussions for prior lawful activities.
The proposed “Stop Climate Shakedowns Act,” supported by Cruz and cosponsored by Senators including Ted Budd, R-N.C., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., seeks to prevent lawsuits against fossil fuel companies. Meanwhile, the FENCES Act, cosponsored by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has passed in the House with support from Reps. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, and Jeff Crank, R-Colo.
Lummis praised the FENCES Act in a press release, highlighting its potential to promote innovation by cutting bureaucratic procedures while maintaining key Clean Air Act standards. The American Petroleum Institute, a leading trade group, has lobbied in favor of these legislative efforts, but Lummis’s spokesperson denies any lobbying influence on her decision.
“Homegrown Pollution”
The Clean Air Act sets thresholds for pollutants like ozone and regional haze. When states or cities fail to meet these standards, they must devise plans to reduce pollution. While foreign emissions can impact U.S. air quality, they aren’t always the main issue. “That argument is often a red herring to distract from homegrown pollution,” argued Ulla Reeves of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Fossil fuels contribute substantially to this “homegrown” pollution. Texas is the largest energy producer in the U.S., while Colorado and Utah rank in the top 17. The health effects of air pollution are well-documented, with experts like Brian Moench from Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment comparing prolonged ozone exposure to cigarette smoking.
“The idea that life-saving, health-protecting clean air standards burden people is just nuts.”
— Brian Moench
Statistics indicate up to 8,000 stillbirths in the U.S. annually due to air pollution. The EPA has proposed changes affecting the Salt Lake City area’s air quality standards, a move criticized for its potential public health impacts.
In Texas, where industry and population growth are straining air quality, the FENCES Act could worsen health outcomes, according to Cyrus Reed from the Sierra Club. “It means more sick people and higher health care costs,” Reed stated.
Immune Corporations, Vulnerable Citizens?
Hageman and Cruz’s bills aim to shield fossil fuel companies from responsibility for weather-related damages linked to their products. Critics argue this undermines climate science, particularly attribution science, crucial for understanding climate impacts according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Western regions like the Colorado River basin face severe drought, threatening water and electricity supplies for millions. In Wyoming, environmental advocates express concern over continued support for industries contributing to environmental harm.
Texas experiences a broad range of climate-related disasters, and current policies do not seek damages from fossil fuel companies for reconstruction costs. Reed expressed disappointment in Cruz’s support of the industry over public health concerns.
The bills have been forwarded to the Committee on the Judiciary, while the FENCES Act is pending a hearing before the Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org